WEBVTT HE WILL STEP ASIDE UNTIL THEINVESTIGATION IS COMPLETE.IT'S BACK TO WORK FOR LAWMAKERSAT THE STATE CAPITOL BUT NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL.TONIGHT, ON THE ADVICE OF HISCOLLEAGUES LOS ANGELES SENATOR,TONY MENDOZA MADE THANNOUNCEMENT.>> I HAVE DECIDED THAT I WILLTAKE A LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR THISMONTH OF JANUARY TO ALLOW THISINVESTIGATION TO MOVE FORWARDANA: THE SENATE ISINVESTIGATING AFTER THREE WOMENWHO WORK FOR MENDOZA ACCUSED HIMOF OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT.MENDOZA INITIALLY REFUSED TOTAKE A LEAVE OF ABSENCE WHENASKED BY HIS FORMER ROOMMATE ANDSENATE PRESIDENT KEVIN DE LEON.>> WE HAVE HEARD THEANNOUNCEMENT FROM SENATORMENDOZA WITH REGARDS TO THPENDING INVESTIGATION, HIS LEAVEOF ABSENCE.I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN.SO WITH THAT, WE'LL RECONVENETOMORROW MORNINGDANA: TWO ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATSRAUL BOCANEGRA AND MATT DEBABNEHRESIGNED LAST MONTH FOLLOWINGCLAIMS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT.THERE'S NOW A REPUBLICANRESOLUTION CALLING FOR MENDOZA'SIMMEDIATE EXPULSION.THE CAPITOL DESERVES EVERYONEWORKING HERE NEEDS TO BE IN ASAFE ENVIRONMENT THAT'S WHATIT'S ALL ABOUT.DANA BUT WITH TONIGHT'S: ANNOUNCEMENT -- >> I WILL RETURN ON FEBRUARY 1. MENDOZA'S FUTURE STILL HANGS ITHE BALANCE.I WILL TAKE MY LEAVE NOW TO THE

California state Sen. Tony Mendoza agreed Wednesday to take a paid leave of absence during an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct, a reversal from his defiant stance that came after nearly four hours of arm-twisting from fellow Democrats.

"To take away any type of appearance of impropriety or giving any type of special influence, I have decided that I will take a leave of absence for the month of January to allow the investigation to move forward," he said after Democrats emerged from the closed door meeting.

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Mendoza didn't say what prompted him to change his mind from earlier Wednesday, when he declared he shouldn't be pushed aside for "allegedly making someone feel uncomfortable."

The question of what to do with Mendoza dominated the Senate's first day back in Sacramento, with Democrats meeting behind closed doors for hours -- Mendoza included.

Options on the table included Mendoza taking a voluntarily leave of absence until the investigation concludes or moving to suspend or expel him.

Staff members were shut out of the discussions and senators didn't comment as they went in and out of the room. Mendoza, whose family sat in the gallery, said he'd cooperate with investigators in order to clear his name and warned his colleagues against acting rashly.

"The allegations against me, as far as I know, do not involve any form of touching or even suggest inappropriate bodily contact. Unlike others, I have been accused at most of allegedly making someone 'feel' uncomfortable," he said in a statement before the session convened. "I believe I am receiving unequal application of sanctions, without benefit of a thorough investigation or the due process that I am entitled to receive under both the California and US Constitutions."

Two of the women accused Mendoza of behaving inappropriately toward them during his time in the Legislature, including offering alcohol to one of them when she was underage and asking the other to one-on-one meetings over dinner or drinks.

Mendoza has pushed back aggressively against the allegations and said he has not been contacted by Senate investigators. On Tuesday, he urged a state audit of the Legislature's sexual harassment policies, which he said would ensure more transparency for victims, the accused and the public.

The Senate has hired two law firms to handle all sexual harassment allegations for the next two years, including the claims against Mendoza, but he says he has not been contacted by them.

Mendoza's voluntary leave of absence appeared to be the best choice for the Artesia Democrat, whose family watched from the Senate gallery.

"This action today has set a dangerous precedent in that any legislator can be faced with any accusation from anyone and be subjected to a harsh penalty without the benefit of presenting his/her side of the story," Mendoza said in a statement released late Wednesday.

Republicans, meanwhile, were divided on whether to back a proposal by Sen. Andy Vidak to expel Mendoza, with some saying it could create a slippery slope by acting before the investigation concludes.

"The Senate should stop being his enabler," Vidak said. "He is not entitled to any so-called due process in this regard as serving in the Legislature is a privilege, not a right."

It’s a difficult issue for a legislature already under a cloud of controversy.

Two Assembly Democrats, Raul Bocanegra and Matt Dababneh, resigned last month following allegations of sexual misconduct.

“This year the pressure is on lawmakers to respond and actually do something,” KCRA political analyst Kevin Riggs said.

That something includes legislation introduced Wednesday by Sen. Connie Leyva, D-Chino. Senate Bill 820 would ban secret settlements in sexual harassment cases in both the private and public sectors.

“Secret settlements happen everywhere,” Leyva said. “This is not a Hollywood problem or Silicon Valley problem or a Capitol problem -- it is a societal problem. But they have happened here at this Capitol, and they have cost the taxpayers a lot of money.”

Those settlements involve several hundred thousand dollars of taxpayer money.

Assemblyman Kevin McCarty of Sacramento has introduced a bill forcing lawmakers to pay those settlements out of their own pockets in the future.

In the Assembly, Democratic Speaker Anthony Rendon urged his colleagues to be "active protectors" on issues of sexual harassment and misconduct. Two Democratic members from Los Angeles - Raul Bocanegra and Matt Dababneh - already resigned amid allegations of improper conduct including groping women.

"We must provide that protection for those who work here and those whose work requires them to come here," Rendon said. "We can do better, we must do better."

Asked if any other sitting lawmakers are facing allegations, Rendon told reporters he does not comment on human resources issues.